Myanmar Sandstone Sandstone Buddha head – Pagan Period (Bagan) - 13.5 cm

Rare sandstone Buddha head – Burma, Pagan (Bagan) period, 11th–12th century Rare sandstone Buddha head belonging to the great sculptural tradition of Pagan (Bagan), one of the main centers of Buddhist creation in medieval Burma during the 11th–13th centuries. Fragments from this period, and particularly heads that retain such legibility of the face, are rarely seen on the market. The Buddha is depicted with an expression of profound serenity: elongated, semi-closed eyes, arched brows following the line of the nose, a raised ūrṇā, delicately modeled mouth, long earlobes, and hair arranged in small regular curls around the ushnisha. These features find parallels in ancient Buddhist sculpture of Bagan, notably conserved in the Bagan Archaeological Museum. The face preserves a notably expressive modeling despite the piece’s age. The reverse is deliberately worked more coarsely, indicating that the sculpture was designed primarily for a frontal or three-quarter view, probably in an architectural or devotional context. The stone shows an even ancient patina and natural weathering, with abrasions and old losses, particularly in the upper part of the coiffure. No modern restoration of the face has been observed and no definite ancient polychromy is preserved. The head is today presented on a slim modern wooden base. Provenance: former private collection in Bavaria, formed between 1965 and 1985, according to the provenance published previously. Dimensions: 13.5 × 9 × 11.5 cm. Total height with base: 21.5 cm. Weight: 1,489.5 g, including base. The piece has undergone a documented comparative study and a MIMOSA certificate, drawing in particular on published scientific works dedicated to Bagan Buddhist sculpture and on works kept in museum collections of Myanmar. video link: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/78y3begkk7fvrboljkc8h/ACO1bOL8RvP2ulIh6a78SEM?rlkey=jcrj9avrwmx6xcgauhfmfzn7q&dl=0

Estimate:£6,357.09

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